Are manufacturers robbing us?

[David Nicholson]

Has anyone noticed that apart from the odd "special, special offer" prices of bags of compost from garden centres are surprisingly similar wherever you go. Is it me just being an old cynic or is there the possibility that there is some price control being exercised by the big manufacturers

In the last few years I have been using the Green Ore brand of John Innes composts (used to be used at Wisley before the peat eco-warriors struck!) and enduring a roughly 190 mile round trip to buy it. Given the price of deisel these days (my cheapest is 133.9p per litre) this makes the cost prohibitive so I've gone back to using the J. Arthur Bowers brand of JI's from a local garden centre. Went to get some today to find the bag size has gone down from 25ltr to 20ltr and the price is much more than I used to pay for 25ltrs.

[Gerry Webster]

You old cynic David. How could you possibly think such a thing?

[Richard Green]

I have noticed exactly the same thing with hen food.  Layers pellets are now in 20kg bags for about the same price as a 25kg bag used to be.  But of course the seller explained that they are much easier to carry into the car.  So that's all right then!

[Maggi Young]

Bird seed is in 20kg bags now instead of 25kgs.

And then there's the case of the shrinking chocolate bars........

[mark smyth]

my bird food - sunflower hearts - comes in 25kg bags

[angie]

Bird seed is in 20kg bags now instead of 25kgs.

And then there's the case of the shrinking chocolate bars........

Surly not Maggi, anything else but not our beloved chocolate bars 

Angie

[Neil]

Is all about price points, if you reduce the weight of a pre-packed item, and keep the price the same, not many people notice it. 

[David Nicholson]

Is all about price points, if you reduce the weight of a pre-packed item, and keep the price the same, not many people notice it. 

Elderly, cynical Yorkshiremen do

[davidunderwood]

Another example of rip off Britain

[ArnoldT]

I don't the rip off is solely occurring in UK.

Have a look at the size of a can of peas or chick peas.  Smaller by the minute and more expensive.

[brianw]

My sunflower hearts come as 2 x 13kg or 1 25kg for similar prices ordered online. What amazes me still is I get free next day delivery, sometimes before 10am. Think it is still free in Aberdeen but it might take a little longer to get there, not free for N. Ireland; sorry.

[Martin Baxendale]

Are manufacturers robbing us?

Do bears pooh in the woods?

[ronm]

Manufacturers... generally no! Its all inbetween. Usual formula is , manufacturer - just above cost ( 20% is excellent ), next - +200%, next - +200%, next = retail in Uk, + 300%. We pay for the adverts etc ( and CEO bonuses ) that they use to sell to us!! How Ironic